If you haven't discussed the Los Angeles Lakers at one point or another, then the 2021-22 NBA season didn't really happen. While the rest of the contenders are gaining steam heading into the second half of the campaign, LeBron James and Co. are still trying to figure things out.
To many, the one that sticks out like a sore thumb is the whirlwind play of Russell Westbrook. The Lakers had high hopes for the do-it-all guard but, clearly, that hasn't been the case. Because of their underwhelming record, rumors are ripe that coach Frank Vogel is on his way out.
But for NBA legend Charles Barkley, it's clear that the Lakers' main problem is the front office. Barkley went into a lengthy monologue on Inside the NBA about the lack of accountability on the part of the Lakers' decision-makers (via NBA on TNT).
“The way they are trying to throw Russell Westbrook and Frank Vogel under the bus is really pissing me off. I’m not gonna sit around like all these clowns on other networks who got their head up the Lakers booties. Now, they’re blaming Frank Vogel and Russell Westbrook. The people up top who put that trash together are running and hiding like cowards, saying ‘Oh it’s Frank, it’s Russ.’ You put all them old geezers out there. Listen, the best guy other than LeBron in the last month has been who? Stanley Johnson. For y’all to be bringing a guy who was on the street and he becomes your second best player, whoever running that trash out there getting away with. It’s ridiculous man.”
As of writing, the Lakers are 22-23 and tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the seventh spot in the Western Conference. LeBron has almost singlehandedly kept the team afloat despite Westbrook's poor play and the extended absence of Anthony Davis.
Vogel, for his part, has been trying to mix-and-match guys to look for the optimal combinations. His tweak to play LeBron at center has paid dividends but obviously, not enough.
In an interview with Maxim, Barkley also slammed the Lakers' defense and bench.
“OLD. SLOW. BRICKS. FENSE, as in no ‘D.' And ‘ENCH' as in no bench.”
With the NBA trade deadline fast approaching, it would be 100% interesting to see what the Lakers will do.
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